Fever during anaesthesia.

Chiharu Negishi; Rainer Lenhardt

doi:10.1016/j.bpa.2003.08.004

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PubMed · 14661654

Fever during anaesthesia.

Chiharu Negishi·Rainer Lenhardt

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Abstract

Fever occurs when pyrogenic stimulation activates thermal control centres. Fever is common during the perioperative period, but rare during anaesthesia. Although only a limited number of studies are available to explain how anaesthesia affects fever, general anaesthesia seems to inhibit fever by decreasing the thermoregulatory-response thresholds to cold. Opioids also inhibit fever; however, the effect is slightly less than that of general anaesthesia. In contrast, epidural anaesthesia does not affect fever. This suggests that hyperthermia, which is often associated with epidural infusions during labour or in the post-operative period, may be a true fever caused by inflammatory activation. Accordingly, this fever might be diminished in patients who receive opioids for pain treatment. Post-operative fever is a normal thermoregulatory response usually of non-infectious aetiology. Fever may be important in the host defence mechanisms and should not be routinely treated lest the associated risks exceed the benefits.

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Adjuvants, Anesthesia Analgesics, Non-Narcotic Analgesics, Opioid Anesthesia, Epidural Anesthesia, General Fever Humans Narcotics Postoperative Complications Surgical Procedures, Operative Journal Article Review

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Chiharu Negishi, Rainer Lenhardt. 2003. Fever during anaesthesia.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpa.2003.08.004

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